Heavy flooding creates Gaines County road troubles

SEMINOLE - Heavy rains at the start of the week led to flooding, dangerous driving conditions and highway lane closures that continued into Tuesday in Gaines County.

Seminole received 4.7 inches of rain Sunday and another 2.1 on Monday, according to Texas Tech's West Texas Mesonet. Another 0.31 inches was tacked on to the total by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

In comparison, in 2011 the town collected just 3.44 inches the entire year.

"This is the worst I've ever seen it," Peter Enns said Tuesday.

The 16-year Seminole resident recalled a downpour hitting Sunday, causing flooding over U.S. 62/385, the highway toward Seagraves. Officials issued travel warnings and narrowed traffic lanes, but did not have to close the entire road.

"Traffic was always able to pass through the roadway. It was not closed at any point," said Dianah Ascencio, a public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation.

By Tuesday, the left part of the northbound lane was still closed, and pools of water surrounded the road. Playa lakes formed in the nearby countryside. A few businesses on the northern edge of town had blocked-off, flood-ridden driveways.

"It was pretty bad," said Celia Martinez, who was caught Monday on a commute between Brownfield and Andrews.

Heavy rain landed on the road from Andrews toward Seminole, causing her to lower her speed to 40 mph. After she passed Seminole, the downpour was heavy enough that she pulled over and waited for it to stop.

"It was scary," she recalled.

TxDOT crews spent the aftermath of the flood removing mud and debris from highways and pumping water away from roadways and local businesses.

Seagraves, while barely a 20-minute drive from Seminole, received 2.7 inches of rain in the same two-day period Seminole saw 6.8, according to the Mesonet.

Brief flooding led to a few traffic accidents, but none with serious injuries, Seagraves Police Chief Scott McAuley said.

With decent rain chances the rest of the week, the TxDOT urges drivers to use caution. Just 6 inches of water on a roadway can be enough to float some vehicles, Ascencio said.

"When motorists are approaching some water, the best thing to do is turn around," she said. "You don't know how deep it is and you don't know what kind of debris is under the water."